“Those thoughts will shift shapes a few more times before the night’s over,” Alain said. “They make the Wandering City an exciting place to live in, but it’s not for everyone. I can show you around, if you’d like.”
“Thank you, but we can’t stay,” Raya said. “We were headed to the Archive, but I chose the wrong track on the map by mistake.”
“You didn’t.” Alain smiled. “Everyone finds this train car by accident. It moves around so much that passengers inadvertently end up taking detours here. The car hops around the track, forcing the other train cars to make way for it. It annoys the conductor, but there’s nothing she can do about it. The Wandering City does as it pleases.”
“The city’s sentient?” Q said.
“Not exactly. How each car behaves is driven by the thoughts that fill it. They’re like people that way. Transient thoughts, transient train car,” Alain explained. “It’s a pity you can’t stay long. Until they finish renovating the Lake, this train car, without a doubt, is the queen of the Elsewhere Express. I hope you can come back for a visit when you have more time.”
“We will.” The reply rolled off Raya’s tongue, surprising her more than the detour to the Wandering City had. She had only wanted to be polite but found herself meaning every word. Each came wrapped in possibility like ribboned presents under a tree. Raya unwrapped them slowly, revealing the shiny little futures they contained. She turned them over in her mind, admiring them from every angle. A queue for breakfast at the Dragonfly. A day of collecting songs at the beach while Q painted stars. Happy hour at the Lotus, sipping rice wine cocktails under a sparkling sea. Raya dismissed these imaginings as the effects of lingering in a train car made of fleeting thoughts. She kept her eyes on the river, waiting for them to go on their way.
“Wonderful,” Alain said. “I’ll be more than happy to give you a tour.”
Raya took the crystal train from her bag. The map’s silver railway appeared, spilling from the boat’s deck and stretching out over the river. Raya closed her eyes, listening for the Archive’s song. A dock broke apart and rocked the boat. Raya wobbled. Hummingbirds burst from the water and crisscrossed the tracks, filling the air with low-pitched buzzing. “We can’t do this here. I can barely hear the songs.”
Q nodded and waved to Alain. “Would it be too much trouble if we asked you to drop us off at a dock?”
“Not at all. Where would you like to get off?”
“Anywhere that’s convenient for you,” Raya said.
Alain pulled the oar. “We’ll be coming up to a dock shortly.”
“Thank you.” Raya smiled. “We really appreciate this.”
“My pleasure.” Alain glanced at a basket of rubies. “Since you’ll be getting off at that dock, I was wondering if you could do me a small favor? A friend of mine lives very close to where you’ll be disembarking. I’ve been meaning to drop off a present, but I haven’t had the time. Would it be possible for you to deliver it for me before you leave for the Archive? It should take no time at all.”
“Of course,” Raya said without having to think. “We’d be happyto.”
“Thank you.” Alain steered the boat toward the dock. “Her compartment is right on top of her perfumery.”
“Why can’t I find any perfume on the train?”
Frequently Asked Questions
The Elsewhere Express
Passenger Handbook
Raya
At the end of a quiet street, nestled between an antique furniture store and a vintage art shop, Madame Manon de Lambilly’s perfumery hid behind a peeling door that, over its lifetime, had been painted every shade of wine.
With neither a window display nor a sign to announce its presence, the small shop seemed to be trying its best not to be found. It might have succeeded if the spicy and warm fragrance wafting from the open window on its second floor did not betray it. It drifted down the cobbled street and beckoned Raya to follow. Raya walked up the worn steps to the shop’s door, breathing in the scented invitation. A door knocker in the shape of a hummingbird perched on a brass flower at the center of the red door. Raya clutched its wing. The metal bird stirred and flew away. It circled Raya and Q, hovering by the tips of their noses. It looked into their eyes.
Q stared back at it. “I think it’s trying to decide whether or not to let us in.”
The hummingbird flew to the perfumery’s open window and slipped inside.
Raya looked up at the curtained window. “I hope that doesn’t mean it didn’t like us.”
“I hope so too.” Q checked the door’s knob. It was locked. “But if it does, then we can always try knocking the old-fashioned way.” Q tightened his grip on Alain’s gift. “I have no idea what things are worth on this train, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving a basket of rubies on someone’s doorstep.”
“Neither do I,” Raya said. “Thank god he didn’t ask us to deliver bananas.”
They locked eyes and burst into giggles, their laughter ringing through the street.
The perfumery’s door creaked open. Raya clamped her lips over a chuckle. Q did the same, but with less success. His eyes watered. He dabbed at them with his sleeve.
